Confirmed with Link: Artturi Lehkonen to Avs for Justin Barron and 2024 2nd

[Nzap]

Woot woot.

Really happy we got Lehkonen for this year and hopefully for a lot after too.
Optimal middle-6 winger, makes life easier for anyone who plays center with him.

Losing yet another 2nd and Barron is an overpayment, but not that much. And looking at all other deals, this is kinda what you had to give to get.

 

[Avs44]

It's crazy how prices have gone up for bottom-6 F and bottom-4D in the last few TDL. Sad that we couldn't sell at these prices when we sucked.

Eh, it's only a certain type of bottom six forward that nets top returns -- typically high end third liners that are not pending UFAs. That's what we've seen from Tampa with basically two 1sts for Coleman, a 1st for Goodrow, two 1sts+ for Hagel, and now the Avs with a 1st+2nd for Lehkonen. The lower end bottom sixers who are pending UFAs are still just being dumped off for late picks, e.g. Motte only got a 4th, Namestnikov only got a 4th, Appleton only got a 4th, etc. The league, especially Tampa (and I think everyone else will keep following), has clearly identified that there is a huge gap between a good fourth liner and a good third liner -- and that it's worth paying that price.

 

[SaltySkywalker]

Pretty happy with the trade, but the fact that we’ve traded away Timmins, Barron and Helleson in a span of less than 10 months does make me a bit worried about the future. Would have liked to keep atleast one, but I guess you really can’t help it.

Sakic’s done more than enough of his part though.
It’s up to the players and Bednar now. Let’s go!!!!

It's obvious to me that Sakic sees the Dcorps as pretty much set for the next several years and beyond (with some small, bottom pairing tweaks maybe). All healthy and with a re-signing of Manson (hope they do), we're looking at:

Toews - Makar
Byram - Manson
Girard - EJ
(Behrens in the fold)

Sakic drafted a position of league-wide value (dmen) and is now able to trade them from a position of strength. Simply put, if all pans out correctly, there really wasn't a spot for all those drafted dmen.

 

[5280]

Coaches always choose the vet over the rookie

Not when he sucks balls

 

[jabubenice]

I don't think I agree with you on Barron. Yes, he's a big mobile RHD with some offensive skill, great. BUT, as I've mentioned on here before (I think it was in a conversation with @henchman24 or @S E P H a few weeks ago) there are legit concerns about Barron in the DZ that make me a bit skeptical that he'll reach his ceiling.

To be more specific, in watching all our preseason games this year I noticed that Barron seemed to really struggle a lot with tracking his man in the zone (especially in the crease area) as well as gap control which I found weird considering how good of a skater he is.

I haven't watched much of the Eagles this year but I'd nonetheless guess that he has improved some of those weaknesses as he's received some coaching from Eagles head coach Cronin who has a great track-record of developing NHL Dmen with the Islanders (De Haan, Mayfield, etc) and Colorado (Graves, Timmins), so I'd guess that he still pans into a 2nd pairing guy at the NHL level.

I hope things work out for Barron in Montreal, but with how good and young the Avs blueline is right now I don't think he'll be missed all that much. Especially if we re-sign Manson which I do think Sakic will try to do.

u need to copy and paste this on the main forum and montreal forum... they think they got the 2nd coming of makar wrapped in byram ability... i jus dont get it how all of a sudden he NOW THIS BLUE CHIP prospect

 

[AllAboutAvs]

I'm a Barron fan but I take this trade any day.

This TDL this team has improved considerably defensively without giving up any offense and then we have Byram coming back on top of that.

 

[Hasbro]

This guy is a f***ing monster.

View attachment 519467

 

[Hasbro]

I would have preferred the '23 1st to Barron, but brings what the team needs and is an RFA to boot.

5'11"?! What is this shit?!

 

[95snipes]

Love it. Wish we found a way to add another piece as well (Copp/Brown/Rakell/etc), but I am very happy with this.

Like Barron's tools, but for me there are some IQ concerns there. Good prospect but I'm ok dealing him.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

I would have preferred the '23 1st to Barron, but brings what the team needs and is an RFA to boot.

5'11"?! What is this shit?!

They can now use the 1st in 2023 for a RD

 

[henchman21]

I would have preferred the '23 1st to Barron, but brings what the team needs and is an RFA to boot.

5'11"?! What is this shit?!

The 23 1st, even late should be a better prospect than Barron.

 

[LOFIN]

I would have preferred the '23 1st to Barron, but brings what the team needs and is an RFA to boot.

5'11"?! What is this shit?!

He plays much bigger than his size would indicate.

 

[Pokecheque]

Here's an unpopular fact... Lehk could also be Nuke insurance for the summer.

Yep. But that makes it even more wise if he prices himself out of Colorado.

 

[JH21]

Do we go with an elite defensive 3rd line now? We could roll that out vs teams top lines if we have last change and shut them down completely.

Burakovsky- Mackinnon- Rantanen
Landeskog- Kadri- Newhook
Lehkonen- Sturm- Nichushkin
Cogliano- Compher- O'Connor

Scratches- Helm, Aube-Kubel, MacDermid

 

[willy702]

It's obvious to me that Sakic sees the Dcorps as pretty much set for the next several years and beyond (with some small, bottom pairing tweaks maybe). All healthy and with a re-signing of Manson (hope they do), we're looking at:

Toews - Makar
Byram - Manson
Girard - EJ
(Behrens in the fold)

Sakic drafted a position of league-wide value (dmen) and is now able to trade them from a position of strength. Simply put, if all pans out correctly, there really wasn't a spot for all those drafted dmen.

I think one of the potential deep takeaways is perhaps the team is satisfied Murray is improving enough and young enough to be that #6 along with MacDonald so they don't have to rush Behrens in. Not sure if they trust EJ past next year and his contract finally ending to be of value.

 

[Pokecheque]

Coaches always choose the vet over the rookie

You obviously haven't watched a Bednar-coached team the last five years.

 

[le_sean]

Good luck guys. I hope Lehkonen can help you get a Cup. He certainly won’t hurt in that regard. He’s a warrior. He won’t really hit, but he’ll fight like a hound for the puck and is really good at killing penalties. Can frustrate you with the golden opportunities he misses, but he seems to be doing a better job of burying goals this season. Regardless, you won’t be disappointed.

 

[jfc64]

Hmm...

Lehkonen - MacKinnon - Rantanen
Burakovsky - Kadri - Nischushkin
Landeskog - Newhook - Compher
Cogliano - Sturm - O'Connor

 

[GoNordiquesGo]

Manson, Lehkonen, Cogliano.
Paid high/fair prices to obtain what the doctor ordered.
Some owe "sleepy Joe" an apology methink!

I have a feeling next year we will have a weeker second line but a stronger 3rd line. We won't be able to reconstruct a very strong 2nd line but our 3rd line will be that much stronger than this year, resulting in a team relying on its first line, elite group of Dmen and deep/reliable middle six group of forwards. Will be interesting to follow. That window is not closing at all. Contrary to everyone's belief, we are even stronger this year than we were last year. I don't expect that we will be stronger, nor as strong, next year than this year, but that window isn't closing either.

 

[EscapedGoat]

Any idea what his next contract will look like? Any comps for a player like him signing an rfa contract?

 

[ottawa]

What a f***ing memory...good luck Lehks! Will miss you.

 

[shadow1]

It's a premium price but a great move by Sakic.

Lehkonen is on pace for 41 points despite no PP production and limited ice time (14:43). He's obviously an analytics darling and should be a great long term add for the Avs.

I was higher on Helleson than Barron and agree with @Richard88 about his bizarre gap control. But regardless, best of luck to him in Montreal.

 

[Nihiliste]

Depends how he looks in the playoffs no?

 

[AllAboutAvs]

For the stats guru it would be interesting to see where we are ranked currently on the PK since we were 30th in the league and then compare that later on with the rest of the season with the addition of Sturm, Leky and Cogs. I think we are 20th right now but I mean our PK% from the time we were 30th to tomorrow (considering we are playing the Oilers today). Not sure that makes sense lol.

 

[le_sean]

Hmm...

Lehkonen - MacKinnon - Rantanen
Burakovsky - Kadri - Nischushkin
Landeskog - Newhook - Compher
Cogliano - Sturm - O'Connor

You don’t want him on your 1st line. His profile fits with the type of player that might help skilled players, but it’s never worked when we tried it. Granted we don’t have Nate and Mikko